PLAUSIBLE SWINDLER

Opunake Times, 12 June 1931, Page 4

PLAUSIBLE SWINDLER

BOY’S CAREER OF CRIME. A LLEG EJ) HE A CKAJ AIL.

An extraordinary story concerning the career of a man who claimed to have had a public school education was revealed at .London Sessions. There, a smart, well-dressed, cleanshaven man, George Stanley Heaven, estate agent, was found guilty ol having fraudulently converted money to his own use. He also admitted that lie had obtained money without disclosing that he was an undischarged bankrupt.

Detective Inspector llosie told the judge (Sir William Wilherface) that in 1921 Heaven was articled to a firm of estate agents and auctioneers at Hereford, but he only remained there about 12 months. Then he set up as an estate agent on his own account in the same town in opposition to his former employers. He advertised extensively in various provincial newspapers for pupils to be articled to him, and in at least two instances he succeeded in getting £l5O and £IOO respectively from two lads whom ho afterwards got rid of on one pretext or another. Heaven subsequently admitted at his examination in bankruptcy that this was one of the easiest ways of getting money. While acting as an estate agent at Hereford, continued Inspector Rosie, he conducted numerous sales, and in a great many instances he used tho proceeds for his own purposes. In one case he was instructed by a widow to dispose of her husband’s property, but he converted the amount received (£175) and left the widow penniless. No criminal proceedings were taken against him, however,- and in the meantime other people, who had also been defrauded, commenced civil proceedings against Heaven, with the result that he was made bankrupt in October, 1923. His liabilities were £1(163 12s lid.

After his bankruptcy Heaven went to Worcester and took offices in tho High Street, and having re-started as an estate agent he employed a number of clerks. On January 6, 1925, Heaven’s offices were found to he on fire. Investigations proved that Heaven Had Over-Insured the Premises and in order to get tho insurance money had set the building on fire. For this offence Heaven was sentenced to 15 months’ hard labour. Shortly after his release from prison in June, 1920, Heaven went to Watford where he again set up as an estate agent and auctioneer. He advertised for pupils, and from one who was articled to him he obtained £IOO. Later, he got rid of the youth, Heaven accused him of stealing a 10s note, but im being interviewed by the boy’s father Heaven withdrew the allegation, which, he admitted was untrue. During then short period Heaven was in Watford he obtained sums amounting to £1055. This he converted to his own use, and on this and other charges he was ordered 18 mouths’ hard labour.

Regaining liis freedom in July, 1929, Heaven went to Bromley, where, once again, he became an estate agent with a small office in East-street, and obtained the agency for the sale of a number of houses in Bromley, Beckenham. and Eltham districts. Having negotiated bis first sale and taken a deposit of £lO, he opened a private banking account and used the money for his own purposes. Having up to then lived in a room Beaven took over a house at Amesbury Road, Bickley, furnished it elaborately on the hire purchase system, and kept a maid, and in 12 months he also obtained five motor cars, all on the instalment plan. During the same period he received £2674 as deposits, and of this sum he returned £960. Although lie employed seven clerks he only had sufficient work for one. About the beginning of October, 1960, Beaven rang up the policestation, and asked for a detective to call. “1 saw him,” explained Inspector Rosie, “and he told me that he had missed a few shillings from a box in his office, and that be suspected a young lad who had just left his employ. The youth was well connected, and Beaven was most anxious that ho should be interviewed. After the police had done so, Beaven saw the boy, and. under a threat of having his arrested, obtained from him a written confession of his guilt. Beaven then took the confession To the Boy’s Grandmother, a well-known woman in Bromley, tolfi her what her grandson ' had done, showed her the confession, and said the police were waiting in his office to have tliol boy arrested. Beaven suggested, as an alternative, that she should pay him £IOOO to square the matter, and that he should take the boy back into his employ. The grandmother, who is 76, to save the disgrace to the family, consented to the proposition.

At that moment the boy, who had an appointment to lunch with his grandmother, came in. lie asked what was the matter, and, on being told, advised his grandmother not to part with any money, saying he would give himself up to the police, lie left the house with that intention, but before reaching the police-station Heaven stopped him anil took his address at Bickley. Then Heaven sent for the boy’s mother, but, finding that she had no money, anil that the boy declined to allow his grandmother to bo blackmailed, Heaven abandoned his threats.

“Heaven,” added the officer, “is described by the provincial police as being bumptious, a heavy drinker, and fond of the company of young lads.” When the judge interposed, inspector Hosie explained that in another case, in an exactly similar way, Heaven got £250. “If anything, that is attempted blackmail,” remarked Sir Herbert WHherforce. “That may form the subject of another charge, and I do not think it right to listen to this.”—“He's a most plausible man,” replied Inspector Hosie, “who will stop at nothing to gain his own ends.” “My only doubt,” observed Sir Herbert, addressing Heaven, “is whether 1 should pronounce a sentence of penal servitude. I always do so with great reluctance.